Need a quick-and-easy Christmas treat? Here's an idea for you! These White Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Rods are perfect for little treat gifts, or for get-together nibbles. Not to mention, they're just plain fun... both to make and to eat.

And, again, I'm realizing that I've been on a total pretzel kick this Christmas baking season. So far, four out of my five posts for December have included pretzels! That was not at all intentional.

These White Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Rods are perfect for little treat gifts, or for get-together nibbles. Not to mention, they're just plain fun... both to make and to eat.

Now I've moved on to simply dipping pretzel rods in chocolate. White chocolate. With colorful sprinkles. You know, to deck them out for Christmas and all.

I whipped these up at the last minute one night. I was asked to make a batch of cake pops (like these Salted Chocolate ones) to include as a little "giftie" with the gift cards our teacher staff was giving the office staff for Christmas.

Now, I love to make cake pops ... but any of you out there who've made them know they aren't the quickest things to make. They happen to be just a teeny tiny bit tedious and time-consuming. So, I quickly said that wasn't going to happen at this point in the busy Christmas season. But ... I did have another idea for a cute tasty treat.

I think I whipped up (or dipped up!) an entire bag of pretzel rods in less than 30 minutes. So quick. So easy.

Melt some bark coating together with a tiny bit of shortening. The shortening thins the coating out a bit and makes it so you get a nice, smooth layer of white chocolate. Use a tall, skinny container that is tall enough to fit most of the length of the pretzel rod in it. I had a hard time finding something in my kitchen tall and skinny enough, and ended up using a pottery cup.

Once you've melted your coating, dip a pretzel rod in. Tilt the container a bit if you need to to get the coating as far down the pretzel as you can.

Dipping

Take the pretzel out of the coating, gently shake off the excess, letting it drip back into your container. Then, sprinkle with your chosen sprinkles.

I started off with my sprinkles laid out in shallow platters, thinking it would be best to roll the pretzel rods in the sprinkles. Not the case.

It turned out to be easiest just to grab a pinch of sprinkles and sprinkle it over the pretzel rod with my fingers. Just make sure to do this over a bowl or something with a bit of a side ... not the flat platters like I did.

It turned out to be easiest just to grab a pinch of sprinkles and sprinkle it over the pretzel rod with my fingers.

Why?

Because the sprinkles tend to bounce when they land back on whatever dish you're sprinkling over. I've swept my kitchen floor three times since making these pretzels, and I'm still finding little sprinkle balls hiding around my linoleum!

See my finger marks in the green sugar sprinkles below? Yup, much better way to go than rolling.

Lay your dipped-and-sprinkled pretzels out on a sheet of waxed paper or parchment, let the coating set up, and then ... there you have it! A beautiful, festive platter of White Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Rods.

In a tall skinny container (such as a pottery cup or perhaps even a small glass vase), melt bark coating or candy melts and shortening together in the microwave per package directions (typically in 30 second intervals, stirring in between).

Dip a pretzel rod in the candy coating, letting excess coating drip off back into the container. Sprinkle immediately with desired sprinkles.

Place on waxed paper and let stand for white chocolate coating to set up.

Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

I pour the leftover white chocolate coating into a plastic storage container and save it for another use later. All you have to do is heat it back up in the microwave, omitting the shortening (since it's already in there).

Enjoy!

Please enjoy these other Christmas treats from The Kitchen is My Playground ...

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So pretty! I love the idea of using white chocolate. Chocolate and pretzels are the best combo. I discovered this week that pretzel rods don't seem to be available here in Canada. I guess I'm dipping regular old pretzels this year.

Tracey we are so on the same wavelength right now - my kids are dipping pretzels as I type! How funny. I found long treat bags at ACMoore that are perfect for the rods. Also the sprinkles come out so much better on your white chocolate vs. regular chocolate that we are using....gotta get me some white chocolate chips for next time :)

They make special pretzel rod treat bags that are long enough for the pretzels, which is what I used. But they only hold about 4 to 6 pretzels. I would think you could use any plastic or cello-type bag that's long enough. Two ideas that come to mind are:1. Plastic bread loaf bags - sold in the baggie/plastic wrap aisle of some grocery stores.2. Birthday party favor/treat bags - I *think* they would be long enough.Enjoy!

These are so beautiful. I've made them before, but they didn't look as good as yours. So happy you linked up all of your treats at our party. Don't forget the first winner will be announced on Friday :) ~ Julie

You don't absolutely have to use shortening, Ann ... it makes the white chocolate a little easier to handle and tends to create a smoother white chocolate surface. But dipping will work without it ... the chocolate will just be thicker and a bit more 'finicky.' Enjoy!

I made them last night but I try to make thing as natural as possible and didn't want to add hydrated fat in the form of shortening - I used the same amount of refined organic coconut oil in its place and it worked wonderfully. Also, I used one of those antique looking glass milk bottles that are all the rage right now for dipping. It worked great and I had a top to put on it to store the leftovers.

The white chocolate SHOULD remain pliable in a mini crock pot. My only worry is that the temperature of the crock pot would be too hot ... causing the chocolate to either scorch or seize up. The only thing I can say is ... try a little test batch and see?

That's what I'm worried about too. They don't have microwaves in the classrooms! :/ I'll try a batch this weekend and see how it holds up. May be handing them out already made. If that's the case, will have to find another Valentine's project quick! Thanks Tracey!

I decided to make these at home instead of making it a class project for my son Valentine's day party. Logistics were too complicated. I added a teaspoon of coconut oil to the white and milk chocolate melts. While it did make the chocolate smooth, I don't think I needed to add the oil as it did take longer to set up and the mini chocolate chips that I 'tried' to coat the pretzels with did not work very well. But all in all a successful day! :)

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About Me

Hi! I'm Tracey, & I'm having fun with home cooking, one recipe at a time! A former businesswoman & teacher turned blogger & Mom, I love my latest career best. Join in the fun as I share tried-&-true recipes for the everyday home cook.